Chance To Succeed

DAVIE — Ernest Grant cuts a striking image in any surroundings. At 6-foot-5 and 315 pounds, it's hard to be anonymous.

But last year, his rookie season as a Dolphins defensive tackle, he was as close to anonymous as he has ever been.

He appeared in only two games and was inactive for 12.

Now, with Tim Bowens out after having arthroscopic surgery on his left knee, Grant will likely play in a reserve role.

Jermaine Haley will start in Bowens' spot alongside Daryl Gardener. Grant will likely team with Damian Gregory to spell Haley and Gardener.

The Dolphins will also move end Lorenzo Bromell inside to tackle on occasion, but this game will be a big test for Grant.

He performed reasonably well during the preseason. He said that has given him the confidence to carry over into the regular season.

"It's not new," Grant said. "I'm confident now. I know the defense. I know the scheme. I know the tackle's job. It's a whole new ballgame."

Grant's first hurdle of training camp was showing he improved from a year ago, when he entered camp as a promising but raw sixth-round pick from Arkansas-Pine Bluff.

The Dolphins decided he was worth stashing on the roster rather than letting him go.

"He had done a nice job in college and flashed some of the ability that we were looking for," defensive coordinator Jim Bates said. "That's why we drafted him. This guy has a great attitude and likes football.

"When you get that combination from a young man coming out of a smaller school who didn't have all the spring practice work or weight room facilities that some of the major schools have, you've got the ingredients for a huge upside."

Grant showed some of that in preseason, and it was enough to keep him on the active roster for the opener at Tennessee. He had no tackles in a reserve role. On Sunday, he'll probably get a chance to stand out.

"He's improving every day," Bates said. "Ernest has worked hard, especially in the last four or five practices. His intensity level and concentration are picking up. We hope to keep seeing steady improvement where he can give us some help in our defensive-line rotation."